Press Release R 135/14

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The ideal of free men enjoying freedom from fear and want can be achieved only if conditions are created whereby everyone may enjoy his economic, social, and cultural rights, as well as his civil and political rights

American Convention on Human Rights

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Washington D.C.,
November 14, 2014. – The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of
Expression of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns
the murder of Fernando Raymondi, a journalism student and worker of the
magazine Caretas, which took place on
November 9, in San Vicente de Cañete, Departament of Lima, Peru. The Office of
the Special Rapporteur expresses its concern and urges the Peruvian authorities
to take urgent action to establish the motive of the crime and to active all
the legal instruments available to identify and punish the perpetrators and
masterminds behind this crime.

According to the
information received, on the night of November 9, Fernando Raymondi was in his
father’s food store when two strangers entered and shot him, even though they
indicated where they kept the store’s money. Reportedly, Raymondi died on his
way to the hospital.

Raymondi studied
journalism at San Martin de Porres University and worked in the investigative
unit of the magazine Caretas. The
magazine reported that the journalist was investigating the existence of
contract killers in Cañete.

The Peruvian
National Police director stated that the hypothesis handled so far was related
to an attempted assault that resulted in the death of the journalist.

To the Office of
the Special Rapporteur, it is fundamental that the Peruvian State clarifies as
soon as possible the motive behind this crime and urges the authorities to
thoroughly investigate the hypothesis that the crime could have been associated
with the journalist’s work. Moreover, the State should identify, prosecute, and
punish those responsible; and adopt fair measures of reparation for the
victim's family.

Principle 9 of the IACHR
Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression states: "[t]he murder,
kidnapping, intimidation of and/or threats to social communicators, as well as
the material destruction of communications media violate the fundamental rights
of individuals and strongly restrict freedom of expression. It is the duty of
the state to prevent and investigate such occurrences, to punish their
perpetrators and to ensure that victims receive due compensation."

The Office of the
Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression was created by the Inter-American
Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to encourage the defense of the right to
freedom of thought and expression in the hemisphere, given the fundamental role
this right plays in consolidating and developing the democratic system.